Grateful mum's donor payback

MUM Jenny Worrall suffered a ruptured artery and had to have a life-saving blood transfusion when she gave birth to her twins. Now, to say thank you, Jenny and her family have launched Manchester's National Blood Service's latest appeal for more donors.

WHEN Jenny Worrall went into hospital to give birth to her twins after a textbook pregnancy, nobody expected anything to go wrong.

But she suffered a ruptured artery in the delivery room and would have died without an immediate blood transfusion.

Doctors said her she owes her life to the unknown donors who gave more than three litres of blood. And to say thankyou, Jenny and husband Chris, along with twins Luke and Ross, were today at Manchester's National Blood Service collection centre to launch an appeal for more donors.

Jenny, 26, from Marple, Stockport, said: "The doctors said I could have died. If the blood had not been there for me, I would have had no chance.

"I will be grateful for the rest of my life.

Ruptured

Jenny told how after the successful birth of first twin Ross at Stepping Hill Hospital in August 2002, things started to go wrong, threatening her life and that of second twin Luke.

Jenny was rushed for an immediate ceasarean, but an artery ruptured during the op.

Jenny, who has two other children, Leoni, seven, and Jodie, four, said: "I was coming round when I went into shock and I was rushed back into theatre. I lost three-and-a-quarter litres of blood."

She added: "We're so grateful to everyone who makes time to give blood. Just finding an hour in your day is all it takes to make that difference."

Following a transfusion, patients are not allowed to give blood themselves for a year and Jenny has also been on medication and has not been able to donate. But today, she and policeman Chris, 28, were planning to make their first payment into the blood bank.

Manchester's National Blood Centre collection centre is at Norfolk House, Brown Street, just off Market Street, in the city centre. It is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 1.30pm, and from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.